U.S. patent number 10,015,060 [Application Number 14/399,076] was granted by the patent office on 2018-07-03 for information sharing method that provides a graphical user interface image for sharing information relating to an application within a home among a plurality of users.
This patent grant is currently assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA. The grantee listed for this patent is Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Mitsuhiro Aso, Masayuki Hiromoto, Shigehiro Iida, Michiko Sasagawa, Kazunori Yamada.
United States Patent |
10,015,060 |
Yamada , et al. |
July 3, 2018 |
Information sharing method that provides a graphical user interface
image for sharing information relating to an application within a
home among a plurality of users
Abstract
An information sharing method that provides a graphical user
interface image for sharing information relating to an appliance
within a home among a plurality of users includes a receiving step
of receiving, as home appliance event information, information on a
state change of an appliance within a plurality of homes, a
priority determining step of determining a priority of a home that
is to be displayed in the graphical user interface image in
accordance with an occurrence frequency of the home appliance event
information within each home, and a home determining step of
determining a home to be displayed in the graphical user interface
image in accordance with the priority.
Inventors: |
Yamada; Kazunori (Aichi,
JP), Iida; Shigehiro (Osaka, JP), Aso;
Mitsuhiro (Osaka, JP), Sasagawa; Michiko (Osaka,
JP), Hiromoto; Masayuki (Kyoto, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America |
Torrance |
CA |
US |
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Assignee: |
PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CORPORATION OF AMERICA (Torrance, CA)
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Family
ID: |
51490984 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/399,076 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2014 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 05, 2014 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2014/001224 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 05, 2014 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/136451 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 12, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20150156074 A1 |
Jun 4, 2015 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61775146 |
Mar 8, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
41/22 (20130101); G05B 15/02 (20130101); G06Q
50/01 (20130101); G06Q 10/10 (20130101); G05B
2219/2613 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
12/24 (20060101); G06Q 10/10 (20120101); G06Q
50/00 (20120101); G05B 15/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1777253 |
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May 2006 |
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CN |
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2004-272650 |
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Sep 2004 |
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JP |
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2005-101839 |
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Apr 2005 |
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JP |
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2006-81903 |
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Mar 2006 |
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JP |
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2008-9466 |
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Jan 2008 |
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JP |
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2012-141792 |
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Jul 2012 |
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JP |
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2013-20587 |
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Jan 2013 |
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JP |
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2013-45229 |
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Mar 2013 |
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JP |
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200619959 |
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Jun 2006 |
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TW |
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Other References
International Search Report dated May 20, 2014 in International
(PCT) Application No. PCT/JP2014/001224. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Van
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack,
L.L.P.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An information sharing method that provides a graphical user
interface image for sharing information relating to an appliance
within a home among a plurality of users in an information sharing
system including a server, the information sharing method
comprising: a receiving step in which the server receives, as home
appliance event information from each of a plurality of homes,
information on a state change of an appliance within the home, the
home appliance event information including (i) home appliance type
information representing a type of the appliance and (ii) housework
type information representing a type of housework associated with
the type of the appliance represented by the home appliance type
information; a priority determining step in which the server
determines, for each of the homes, a priority level for display in
a graphical user interface image, the priority level for display
being determined by (i) for each type of housework or type of
appliance, calculating an occurrence frequency of the home
appliance event information within a unit time, and correcting the
occurrence frequency by multiplying the calculated occurrence
frequency by a weighted coefficient corresponding to the type of
housework or the type of appliance, and (ii) determining the
priority level for display for the home based on the corrected
occurrence frequency; a home determining step in which the server
determines, from among the homes, a home to be displayed in the
graphical user interface image in accordance with the determined
priority level for display; and a displaying step of displaying, in
the graphical user interface image, a display state of the home
determined to be displayed in the home determining step.
2. The information sharing method according to claim 1, wherein in
the displaying step is implemented such that the display state is
an appliance icon representing an appliance within the home
determined in the home determining step, the appliance icon being
displayed in accordance with the corrected occurrence frequency of
home appliance event information for each type of the
appliance.
3. The information sharing method according to claim 1, wherein the
displaying step is implemented such that the display state is a
home icon representing the home determined in the home determining
step, the home icon being displayed in accordance with the
corrected occurrence frequency of home appliance event information
associated with a type of housework selected by the user.
4. The information sharing method according to claim 1, further
comprising: a message information receiving step of receiving
message information including request information requesting
display in coordination with a type of appliance or type of
housework selected by a user and also including a message input by
the user; and a displaying step of superimposing and displaying the
message in the graphical user interface image when home appliance
event information associated with a type of appliance or type of
housework specified by the request information has been
received.
5. The information sharing method according to claim 4, wherein the
displaying step is implemented such that a home icon representing a
home determined in the home determining step is displayed in the
graphical user interface image and the message is superimposed and
displayed near the home icon.
6. The information sharing method according to claim 4, wherein the
displaying step is implemented such that an appliance icon
representing an appliance within a home determined in the home
determining step is displayed in the graphical user interface image
and the message is superimposed and displayed near the appliance
icon.
7. The information sharing method according to claim 1, further
comprising a transitioning step of causing a display screen to
transition from the graphical user interface image to a community
image relating to a type of appliance specified by home appliance
type information included in the home appliance event information
in a case where the home appliance event information has been
received when the graphical user interface image is displayed.
8. The information sharing method according to claim 1, further
comprising a displaying step of acquiring, when a new appliance
within a home has been detected, community list information that
relates to the new appliance, and superimposing and displaying the
community list information in the graphical user interface
image.
9. The information sharing method according to claim 1, wherein the
home appliance event information includes operation information
representing an operation situation of the appliance, the method
further comprising: a displaying step of determining, as a
community to which a user is related, a community associated with a
type of appliance specified by the home appliance type information,
and displaying a user interface image relating to the community in
accordance with an operation state of an appliance specified by the
operation information.
10. The information sharing method according to claim 9, wherein
the appliance includes a washstand having a gateway function and a
bathroom scale, and the displaying step is implemented such that a
relationship of another user with one user belonging to the
community is displayed in class as the user interface image.
11. The information sharing method according to claim 1, further
comprising a transmitting step performed by the server of
transmitting the graphical user interface image to each of the
plurality of users, the plurality of users including a first user,
wherein the displaying step is implemented such that the graphical
user interface image is displayed on a display device of the first
user such that (i) the display state of the home determined to be
displayed in the home determining step is displayed and (ii) a
display state of a home of the first user is displayed, the home of
the first user being different from the home determined to be
displayed in the home determining step.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an information sharing method that
realizes an information sharing service using information obtained
from an appliance (home appliance and sensor) within a home.
BACKGROUND ART
Due to the spread of smartphones, social networking services
(hereinafter abbreviated as "SNSs") in recent years have allowed
smartphone users to share experiences with friends instantly,
enabling these people to exchange fresh information, which is
attractive as content, over the devices.
However, information on a current SNS is mainly text information
input by a user of the service him/herself, and the time of
occurrence of an event that the information actually refers to is
unclear. Whether the content of information is factual is unclear
to a viewer of the information, and proof cannot be provided by one
who inputs the information.
As one example of a method of sharing an operating situation of an
appliance or the like with another person, there is a method
disclosed in Patent Literature 1. Therein, a technique is disclosed
in which remote control of an appliance installed within a building
is performed from a mobile terminal, and information on control at
that time is notified also to another user through e-mail.
However, the system configuration, user interface, and method of
forming a screen in the case where a large number of users release
information are not disclosed.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2005-101839
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a more attractive
graphical user interface image with enhanced reality or real time
properties of information by sharing information on the state
change of an appliance that has actually occurred between a
plurality of users.
An information sharing method according to one aspect of the
present invention is an information sharing method that provides a
graphical user interface image for sharing information relating to
an appliance within a home between a plurality of users, including
a receiving step of receiving, as home appliance event information,
information on a state change of an appliance within a plurality of
homes, a priority determining step of determining a priority of a
home that is to be displayed in accordance with an occurrence
frequency of the home appliance event information within each home,
and a home determining step of determining a home to be displayed
in the graphical user interface image in accordance with the
priority.
With the information sharing method described above, a more
attractive graphical user interface image with enhanced reality or
real time properties of information can be provided by sharing
information on the state change of an appliance that has actually
occurred between a plurality of users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the information sharing system
representing the inside of a house in FIG. 1 in more detail.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information
sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing one example of screen information on an
information sharing service by the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1
of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view for illustrating the occurrence
frequency of a home appliance event used in the information sharing
system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of setting information on a
transmission side user that is used in a character setting of a
house used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a view showing one example of setting information on a
viewing side user that is used in a character setting of a house
used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a presentation example of a character
setting of a house used in the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a view showing an example representing in detail the
configuration of a server and a DB shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing one example of a message
superimposition process of the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view showing one example of message information used
in the message superimposition process of the information sharing
system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
of performing display of a GUI with a display device shown in FIG.
13.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of a GUI is determined based on
information on a sensor log server shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of a GUI is determined based on
information on an SNS server shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of a GUI is changed based on information
on a sensor shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of a GUI is changed based on information
on the SNS sensor shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the SNS server shown in FIG. 13 has received information from
an SNS event processing module.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display device shown in FIG. 13 updates the display
content of a GUI.
FIG. 21 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information transmitted by a home appliance.
FIG. 22 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information transmitted by the SNS server.
FIG. 23 is a view showing one example of a GUI displayed in the
display device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 24 is a first view showing a modified example of a GUI at the
time of receiving home appliance event information.
FIG. 25 is a second view showing a modified example of a GUI at the
time of receiving home appliance event information.
FIG. 26 is a third view showing a modified example of a GUI at the
time of receiving home appliance event information.
FIG. 27 is a view showing one example of another GUI displayed in
the display device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 28 is a fourth view showing a modified example of a GUI at the
time of receiving home appliance event information.
FIG. 29 is a view showing one example of the screen transition of a
GUI displayed in the display device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 30 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 31 is a view showing one example of the internal configuration
of a GW shown in FIG. 30.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing one example of a process of the GW
shown in FIG. 30 when a new home appliance or sensor is found.
FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing one example of a process of the
display device shown in FIG. 30 when a new home appliance or sensor
is found.
FIG. 34 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information used in the determination of the type of appliance
connected to a network.
FIG. 35 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information acquired from a home appliance management server shown
in FIG. 30.
FIG. 36 is a view showing one example of a GUI in Embodiment 3 of
the present invention.
FIG. 37 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
FIG. 38 is a view showing one example of the configuration of a
server shown in FIG. 37.
FIG. 39 is a view showing one example of a customer database stored
in a customer DB and one example of a user operation history
database stored in an operation history DB shown in FIG. 38.
FIG. 40 is a view showing one example of a community database
stored in a community DB shown in FIG. 38.
FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing one example of a control process of
the server shown in FIG. 37.
FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a washstand equipped with a
network function and a display function.
FIG. 43 is a view showing a display example of connectable
appliances in an appliance area shown in FIG. 42.
FIG. 44 is a view showing a display example of measurement data in
a log area shown in FIG. 42.
FIG. 45 is a view showing a display example of a community in an
SNS area shown in FIG. 42.
FIG. 46 is a sequence diagram showing one example of a control
process using a washstand and bathroom scale by the server shown in
FIG. 37.
FIG. 47 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
FIG. 48 is a view showing one example of a display screen displayed
in a display device shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a first extended process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 51 is a view showing another example of a display screen
displayed in the display device shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing a second extended process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 53 is a view showing still another example of a display screen
displayed in the display device shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 54 is a view showing the configuration of another information
sharing system in Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
FIG. 55 is a view showing one example of a display screen displayed
in a display device shown in FIG. 54.
FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 54.
FIG. 57 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 6 of the present invention.
FIG. 58 is a view showing one example of a display screen displayed
in a display device shown in FIG. 57.
FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 57.
FIG. 60 is a flowchart showing a first extended process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 57.
FIG. 61 is a view showing another example of a display screen
displayed in the display device shown in FIG. 57.
FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a second extended process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 57.
FIG. 63 is a view showing still another example of a display screen
displayed in the display device shown in FIG. 57.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Each embodiment of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, a method of collecting, as home appliance event
information, information on the state change of an appliance such
as a home appliance or sensor within a home that occurs due to, for
example, a user operation or the like and forming an information
display screen (graphical user interface image) for sharing on a
social network is described.
FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1,
home appliance event information including the state of a home
appliance is transmitted from a home appliance 101 or 102 within
each house 110, 111, or 112 registered in advance with respect to a
server 1010 via a gateway (hereinafter referred to as "GW") 103.
Each of the houses 110, 111, and 112 represent one home.
The server 1010 acquires and stores, in a database (DB) 1011, the
home appliance event information on the home appliance 101 or 102
sent from each of the houses 110, 111, and 112. The server 1010
retrieves home appliance event information on a house (home)
desired by a user from the DB 1011 based on setting information on
the user owning a display device 104, forms information on each
house as screen information based on the home appliance type and
housework type included in the home appliance event information and
the occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information,
and provides the screen information (graphical user interface
image) with respect to a request of the display device 104.
That is, the information sharing system shown in FIG. 1 is an
information sharing system that provides a graphical user interface
image for sharing information relating to an appliance within a
home between a plurality of users. The server 1010 receives
information on the state change of the home appliance 101 or 102
within the plurality of houses 110, 111, and 112 as home appliance
event information, determines the priority of a house that should
be displayed in a graphical user interface image in accordance with
the occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information
within the respective houses 110, 111, and 112, and determines the
house to be displayed in the graphical user interface image in
accordance with the determined priority.
The home appliance event information includes home appliance type
information representing the type of appliance. The server 1010
uses home appliance type information to classify home appliance
event information for each type of appliance, determines the
priority of a house that should be displayed in a graphical user
interface image in accordance with the occurrence frequency of the
home appliance event information for each type of appliance, and
determines the house to be displayed in the graphical user
interface image in accordance with the determined priority.
The server 1010 generates and transmits, to the display device 104,
a graphical user interface image in which the display state of an
appliance icon representing an appliance within a home displayed in
the graphical user interface image is changed in accordance with
the occurrence frequency of home appliance event information for
each type of appliance. The display device 104 changes and
displays, in the graphical user interface image, the display state
of the appliance icon in accordance with the occurrence frequency
of the home appliance event information for each type of
appliance.
The home appliance event information includes home appliance type
information representing the type of appliance and housework type
information representing the type of housework associated with the
type of appliance specified by the home appliance type information.
The server 1010 uses housework type information to classify home
appliance event information for each type of housework, determines
the priority of a house that should be displayed in accordance with
the occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information
associated with the type of housework selected by a user, and
determines the house to be displayed in a graphical user interface
image in accordance with the determined priority.
The server 1010 generates and transmits, to the display device 104,
a graphical user interface image in which the display state of a
home icon representing a house displayed in the graphical user
interface image is changed in accordance with the occurrence
frequency of home appliance event information associated with the
type of housework selected by a user. The display device 104
changes and displays, in the graphical user interface image, the
display state of the home icon in accordance with the occurrence
frequency of the home appliance event information associated with
the type of housework selected by the user.
The server 1010 receives request information requesting display in
coordination with the type of appliance or type of housework
selected by a user and message information including a message
input by the user, and, when home appliance event information
associated with the type of appliance or type of housework
specified by the request information is received, generates and
transmits, to the display device 104, a graphical user interface
image in which the message is superimposed and displayed. The
display device 104 superimposes and displays the message in the
graphical user interface image, when the server 1010 has received
the home appliance event information associated with the type of
appliance or type of housework specified by the request
information.
The server 1010 generates and transmits, to the display device 104,
a graphical user interface image in which message information is
superimposed and displayed near a home icon of a user that has
transmitted the message information. The display device 104
displays the home icon in the graphical user interface image and
superimposes and displays the message information near the home
icon.
The server 1010 generates and transmits, to the display device 104,
a graphical user interface image in which message information is
superimposed and displayed near an appliance icon representing an
appliance within a home of a user that has transmitted the message
information. The display device 104 displays the appliance icon in
the graphical user interface image and superimposes and displays
the message information near the appliance icon.
In FIG. 1, the display device 104, the home appliance 101 or 102,
or a sensor does not necessarily need to communicate with the
server 1010 via the GW and may include communication means for
communicating directly with the server 1010. The GW may be an
access point of a wireless local area network (LAN) or may be a
dedicated GW connected with each appliance with a low power
transceiver or the like and further connected with the server 1010
via the Internet. The display device 104 is a device that can
display screen information, such as a television, smartphone, or
personal computer (PC), and may be a home appliance, as long as
screen information can be displayed.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the information sharing system
representing the inside of the house 110 in FIG. 1 in more detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, a microwave 1002, an induction heating (IH)
cooker 1003, and a television (TV) 1004 are connected as the home
appliance 101 or 102 shown in FIG. 1 to a GW 1001.
In the case of a home appliance not having a function of
transmitting information on itself such as an iron 1014, it may be
such that a separate sensor module 1013 is attached, and
information is transmitted to the server 1010 from the sensor
module 1013 via a GW 1012. In this manner, an appliance as a
subject matter of the present invention may be not only a home
appliance, a sensor, or a home appliance built in with a sensor,
but also a home appliance attached with a sensor module. An object
such as a pot can be treated as a home appliance by attaching a
sensor module to the object such as a pot.
A home appliance and a display device may access the server 1010
through access to an Internet network such as a third-generation
(3G) network directly, as with a vacuum cleaner 1005 and a display
device 1100. The server 1010 is often mainly arranged on a
cloud.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information
sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 3, the respective home appliances 101 and 102 determine
whether or not the state of the appliance has changed by
determining whether or not the operation situation of the home
appliance has changed due to a remote operation, a timer, an input
by a user, or the like or whether or not there has been a change in
the state of the home appliance 101 or 102 or the environment
surrounding the home appliance 101 or 102 with a sensor (e.g., the
sensor module 1013) or the like (step S31).
In the case where there has been a change in the operation
situation of the home appliance (YES in step S31), the home
appliance 101 or 102 notifies information on the state change of
the home appliance as home appliance event information to the
server 1010 directly or via the GW 103 (step S32). In the case
where there has not been a change in the operation situation or the
like of the home appliance (NO in step S31), the process of step
S31 is repeated.
Next, the server 1010 saves the obtained home appliance event
information in the DB 1011 (step S33). Next, in the case where a
screen information request from the display device 104 is received,
the server 1010 acquires, from the DB 1011, information on the user
(e.g. house in display setting, preference of housework category,
registered community, or viewed information) requested by the
screen information request (step S34).
Next, the server 1010 acquires home appliance type information and
housework type information from the home appliance event
information for each house necessary for screen formation (step
S35). Next, from the occurrence frequency of the home appliance
event information for each house, the occurrence frequency of the
home appliance event information for each housework type, the
occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information for
each home appliance type, and user information, the server 1010
changes the display content for each house to form a display screen
and transmits the display screen to the display device 104 (step
S36).
Specifically, the server 1010 determines the priority of a house
that should be displayed in a graphical user interface image in
accordance with the occurrence frequency of the home appliance
event information for each house, the occurrence frequency of the
home appliance event information for each housework type, and the
occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information for
each home appliance type. From the determined priority, the server
1010 determines a predetermined number of houses having a
high-level priority (e.g., houses of up to the fifth highest level)
as the house to be displayed in the graphical user interface image,
and generates and transmits, to the display device 104, the
graphical user interface image in which a home icon or the like
representing the determined house is displayed.
Finally, the display device 104 displays the received display
screen (graphical user interface image) (step S37).
FIG. 4 is a view showing one example of screen information on an
information sharing service by the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The screen information shown
in FIG. 4 is displayed in the display device 104 of a user as a
graphical user interface image, so that operation state information
on a home appliance of each house that the user wants to see is
displayed and shared on a screen. For example, in the case where
the priority of a house that should be displayed in the graphical
user interface image is determined in accordance with the
occurrence frequency of home appliance event information within
each house and three houses with high priority out of transmission
side users have been determined, home icons 1202, 1204, and 1205
corresponding to the three houses of the transmission side users in
addition to a home icon 1201 corresponding to a house of a viewing
side user are displayed on a map of Japan.
For example, in the case where an air conditioner that is a heating
appliance is heating at maximum in the house (home) represented by
the home icon 1204 and a user of a community likes the situation of
air conditioning, a house using a heating appliance is selected and
displayed without displaying other houses. In this case, by setting
divided regions of, for example, six blocks on the map of Japan and
causing a setting to be such that at least one house with
significant use of air conditioning is selected and displayed for
each region, information on the house with significant use of air
conditioning can be displayed conveniently while displaying a house
with many cleaning events or the like.
As with a message 1203, a message or the like of each house can be
displayed in addition by providing a link with a post or the like
of another SNS site via a temporal or communication application
programming interface (API). A mark of a house may be displayed in
units of persons, and a human-shaped icon or the like may be
used.
In the case where a user him/herself has a character input device
at this time, the user can input a message within the service to
display the information in accordance with a home appliance event.
Audio data may be input using an audio input device, or a moving
image may be shared using a moving image input device. Further, it
is also possible to use an audio recognition device to display
audio data as a text.
In the screen information described above, a house to be selected
is selected with setting information on a transmission side user
that releases information and setting information on a viewing side
user that views the information. For example, in the case where the
transmission side user wants to emphasize kitchen work, the
priority becomes higher in the selection of a house to be displayed
in the display device 104 of the viewing side user when the
occurrence frequency of kitchen work-related home appliance event
information is greater than or equal to a certain level, and a
kitchen work-related home appliance is displayed to be greater than
or in a more easily viewable position than other home
appliances.
There are cases where a house to be displayed in the display device
104 of a viewing side user is selected based on the preference or
setting information on the viewing side user. Obviously, there are
cases where a transmission side user and a viewing side user are
the same person. In the case where setting information on a
transmission side user is information prioritizing kitchen
work-related housework, information display in accordance with the
priority is possible also for screen information on a viewing side
user.
FIG. 5 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the home appliance
event information includes respective pieces of information that
are the event occurrence time of the home appliance event
information, the appliance identification information (ID) for
identifying a home appliance or sensor from which the home
appliance event information has originated, the home appliance type
representing the type of the home appliance or sensor, the
housework type representing the type of housework associated with
the home appliance or sensor, the detailed housework type with
which the home appliance type is classified in further detail, the
event representing the operation or the like of the home appliance
or sensor, and the event value with which the operation of the home
appliance or sensor is classified in further detail.
The housework type may be set from the housework type with a user
setting or the like on the server 1010 side. The head speed of a
vacuum cleaner can be acquired using an acceleration sensor, rotary
encoder, or the like. This is not limited home appliances, and it
is also possible to attach a sensor to a pot, drawer, or the like
to acquire the state change of the pot, drawer, or the like as home
appliance event information and cause the pot, drawer, or the like
to behave like a home appliance.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view for illustrating the occurrence
frequency of a home appliance event used in the information sharing
system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. When the housework
type is classified as organizing-related, kitchen work-related, or
the like, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the occurrence frequency
of home appliance event information (in circles shown with arrows
in the drawing) can be acquired for each housework type.
The server 1010 calculates, as the occurrence frequency of home
appliance event information for each housework type, the number of
occurrences of home appliance event information (three times for
organizing-related and two times for kitchen work-related in the
example in FIG. 6) within a unit time t (e.g., three minutes)
determined in advance. The server 1010 performs character setting
that is a display effect of the priority of a house that should be
displayed or a house itself to be displayed, depending on the
occurrence frequency of the home appliance event information or the
number of home appliances operating simultaneously.
FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of setting information on a
transmission side user that is used in a character setting of a
house used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, setting information on a
transmission side user used in a character setting of a house
includes respective pieces of information that are the housework
type, the number of SNSs in which a registrant (transmission side
user) is participating, the housework type coefficient that is a
weighting coefficient allocated for each housework type, and the
SNS viewing time of the registrant (transmission side user) for
each housework type.
Since an appliance within a home may be, depending on the housework
type, an appliance that generates home appliance event information
slowly over a long time or an appliance that causes too much home
appliance event information instantly, the server 1010 multiplies,
for each housework type, the occurrence frequency of home appliance
event information by a housework type coefficient and determines
the priority of a house (home) that should be displayed from the
multiplied value. For example, 2 is set as the housework type
coefficient with respect to a organizing-related housework type and
5 is set as the housework type coefficient with respect to a
kitchen work-related housework type. In the case where the
organizing-related occurrence frequency is three times and the
kitchen work-related occurrence frequency is two times, the server
1010 calculates 6 (=3.times.2) as the occurrence frequency after
correction with respect to organizing-related, calculates 10
(=2.times.5) as the occurrence frequency after correction with
respect to kitchen work-related, and determines the priority of a
house (home) that should be displayed from the occurrence
frequencies after correction.
The server 1010 performs selection of the priority or display
effect of a house (home) that should be displayed by using an SNS
viewing time of a registrant for each housework type as other
information or the like.
FIG. 8 is a view showing one example of setting information on a
viewing side user that is used in a character setting of a house
used in the information sharing system in Embodiment 1 of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, setting information on a
viewing side user used in a character setting of a house includes
respective pieces of information that are the housework type, the
number of SNSs in which a viewer (viewing side user) is
participating, the housework type coefficient that is a weighting
coefficient assigned to each housework type, and the SNS viewing
time of the viewer (viewing side user) for each housework type.
The server 1010 determines the interest of a viewer depending on
the number of SNSs participated by the viewer described above,
determines the housework type of preference depending on the SNS
viewing time for each housework type, and performs selection of the
priority or display effect of a house (home) that should be
displayed based on these pieces of information.
Although the housework type coefficient that is the weighting
coefficient is set with respect to the housework type in the
description above, this example is not particularly limiting. It
may be such that a home appliance type coefficient that is a
weighting coefficient is set with respect to the home appliance
type, and the occurrence frequency of home appliance event
information is corrected using the home appliance type
coefficient.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a presentation example of a character
setting of a house used in the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Using parameters of the
respective pieces of information shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG.
8, the server 1010 can generate a graphical user interface image in
which a character setting of a house is presented and displayed, as
shown in FIG. 9.
For example, in the case where there are many pieces of
organizing-related home appliance event information, the housework
type of the house (home) is set to organizing-related, and the
busyness is set to "intense," a home icon is displayed in green,
and a flame effect is added. In the case where the housework type
of the house is kitchen work-related and the busyness is "medium,"
the color of the home icon is in orange, without particular
presentation. In the case where the busyness has become "intense"
at this time, there may be a presentation of billowing smoke.
FIG. 10 is a view showing an example representing in detail the
configuration of the server 1010 and the DB 1011 shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 10, the server 1010 shown in FIG. 1 includes a
different service event processing unit 131, an event information
reception unit 132, an event information accumulation unit 133, a
screen information request acceptance unit 134, a display
information selection unit 135, a screen information formation unit
136, a screen information update processing unit 137, a screen
information transmission unit 138, an exchange processing unit 139,
and a community application processing unit 140. The DB 1011 shown
in FIG. 1 includes an event information database D1, a display user
information database D2, and a community application database
D3.
The server 1010 has the event information reception unit 132 that
receives home appliance event information, and the event
information accumulation unit 133 accumulates home appliance event
information in the event information database D1. In the event
information database D1, not only home appliance event information
but also setting information on a user is accumulated. As setting
information on each user, information such as the user ID, the
display housework type priority, the registered community, the
community viewing time, and the message exchange frequency by house
is accumulated, and these pieces of information can be used upon
sorting of home appliance event information.
In the case where information is already displayed to a viewing
side user, the event information reception unit 132 gives an update
instruction with respect to the screen information request
acceptance unit 134, depending on the type of home appliance event
information. The screen information request acceptance unit 134
accepts a screen display request of a viewing side user. The
display information selection unit 135 selects information that
should be displayed, based on information such as the user ID, the
display housework type priority, the registered community, the
community viewing time, or the message exchange frequency by house
accumulated in the display user information database D2 and the
event information database D1.
The screen information update processing unit 137 performs screen
information update using the information selected by the display
information selection unit 135. The screen information formation
unit 136 eventually forms a screen in accordance with the screen
information update by the screen information update processing unit
137 and delivers screen information (graphical user interface
image) to the display device 104 of a viewing side user via the
screen information transmission unit 138.
In the community application database D3, various community
applications are accumulated. The community application processing
unit 140 processes a community application read from the community
application database D3. Depending on the type of home appliance
event information, the screen information update processing unit
137 executes an associated community application or the like using
the community application processing unit 140.
The different service event processing unit 131 has an interface
for a service such as a different SNS, accepts an event such as a
message input, and causes coordination with a process of forming a
screen information. By the different service event processing unit
131 notifying necessary home appliance event information to a
different service, convenience can be provided to a user of the
different service.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing one example of a message
superimposition process of the information sharing system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the
server 1010 determines whether or not there is an input event by a
transmission side user that releases information (step S101). In
the case where an event such as a text or audio has been
transmitted directly or through coordination with a different site
from a transmission side user that releases information (YES in
step S101), the server 1010 acquires information on the
transmission side user that releases information (step S102).
Then, the server 1010 determines whether there is message
information associated with home appliance event information (step
S103). The message information includes request information
requesting display in coordination with the type of appliance or
type of housework selected by the user and a message input by the
user. As a determination method, relevant event information or the
like may be added to a message header. In this case, it may be such
that there is a setting icon or the like at the time of input, and
a graphical user interface (GUI) with which input is easy may be
set. As category information, a specific keyword (text, audio, or
the like) may be included.
In the case where there is message information associated with home
appliance event information (YES in step S103), the server 1010
superimposes a message to form a screen in accordance with a timing
when the home appliance event information associated with the type
of appliance or type of housework specified by the request
information on the message information has occurred (step S104). In
the case where message information associated with home appliance
event information is absent (NO in step S103), the server 1010
performs output as is (step S105).
FIG. 12 is a view showing one example of message information used
in the message superimposition process of the information sharing
system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. For example, in
the case where the message content is a message of user-input text
and IH cooker is set as the message-associated home appliance type
in request information as shown in FIG. 12, home appliance event
information is transmitted when operation of the IH cooker is
started, and the message is accordingly superimposed and displayed
in a graphical user interface image.
For example, in the case where the home icon 1201 is displayed as
shown in FIG. 4, the server 1010 receives message information
including request information requesting display in coordination
with a vacuum cleaner as the type of appliance selected by a user
and a message "working hard cleaning the room," and then creates a
graphical user interface image in which a message 1206 "working
hard cleaning the room" is superimposed and displayed near the home
icon 1201 when home appliance event information associated with a
vacuum cleaner is received. The display device 104 superimposes and
displays the message 1206 "working hard cleaning the room" near the
home icon 1201.
In the case where an appliance icon 1207 representing an electric
pot is displayed near the home icon 1202 as shown in FIG. 4, the
server 1010 receives message information including request
information requesting display in coordination with an electric pot
as the type of appliance selected by a user and a message "let's
boil water and have tea," and then creates a graphical user
interface image in which the message 1203 "let's boil water and
have tea" is superimposed and displayed near the appliance icon
1207 when home appliance event information associated with an
electric pot is received. The display device 104 superimposes and
displays the message 1203 "let's boil water and have tea" near the
appliance icon 1207.
In the case where the message content is a message of a pre-set
text, a text set in advance may be superimposed in accordance with
the operation or the like of a fan. For example, tweet information
may be output when the fan is shut off. It may be such that audio
is recorded, and the audio is superimposed in the case where a
movement of a pot (acquisition of information with an acceleration
sensor or the like in this case) has been detected.
In this manner, in this embodiment, state change information on a
home appliance within a home that occurs due to user operation or
the like can be collected as home appliance event information to
form an information display screen for sharing on a social network.
As a result, in this embodiment, a more attractive graphical user
interface image with enhanced reality or real time properties of
information can be provided by sharing, between a plurality of
users, home appliance event information as information on the state
change of an appliance that has actually occurred.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 13 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this
embodiment as well, in a similar manner to Embodiment 1, it can be
such that home appliance event information including the state of a
home appliance is transmitted with respect to an event processing
server 2005 shown in FIG. 13 from a home appliance 2002 or the like
within each house registered in advance, information on each house
is formed as screen information based on the type of the home
appliance event information or the occurrence frequency of the home
appliance event information, and the screen information is provided
with respect to a request of a display device 2008. Regarding this
point, description is omitted, and characteristic portions of this
embodiment will be described below in detail.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 13 includes an SNS
server 2001, the home appliance 2002, the event processing server
2005, and the display device 2008. The event processing server 2005
includes an SNS event processing module 2006 and a sensor event
processing module 2007. The home appliance 2002 includes a sensor
log server 2003 and a sensor 2004.
The event processing server 2005, the display device 2008, and the
home appliance 2002 are connected in a home LAN. The event
processing server 2005 and the SNS server 2001 exist on a world
wide web (WWW). The event processing server 2005 gathers, via the
sensor event processing module 2007, sensing information (home
appliance event information) of the home appliance 2002 connected
to a network that occurs within each home. The home appliance event
information is converted to information necessary for display of a
graphical user interface (GUI) image of the display device 2008 and
held. In the case where the sensor 2004 mounted to the home
appliance 2002 is connected directly to a global network, sensing
information may be gathered without involving the sensor event
processing module 2007.
The sensor log server 2003 gathers and holds a sensor value (home
appliance event information) detected by the sensor 2004 and
performs transmission of the detected sensor value to the sensor
event processing module 2007 and transmission of the held sensor
value in accordance with a request from the sensor event processing
module 2007. Regarding the sensor log server 2003, there are cases
of being mounted to an appliance separate from the home appliance
2002, cases of existing as a single appliance, and cases of
existing on the WWW.
The sensor 2004 is mounted to the home appliance 2002 to detect and
notify, to the sensor log server 2003, the operation or state of
the home appliance 2002. Regarding the sensor 2004, there are cases
of being mounted to an appliance other than the home appliance 2002
and cases of being attached as the sensor 2004 alone to an object
such as a household item.
The event processing server 2005 is configured of the SNS event
processing module 2006 and the sensor event processing module 2007.
Regarding the event processing server 2005, there are cases of
being mounted to the display device 2008, cases of existing on the
WWW, and cases of existing as a single appliance.
The SNS event processing module 2006 receives home appliance event
information or the like transmitted from the SNS server 2001 and
transmits home appliance event information or the like with respect
to the display device 2008. The SNS event processing module 2006
requests necessary home appliance event information to the SNS
server 2001, receives the home appliance event information, and
then transmits the received home appliance event information to the
display device 2008. The SNS event processing module 2006 transmits
home appliance event information or the like to the SNS server 2001
based on the home appliance event information transmitted from the
sensor event processing module 2007.
The sensor event processing module 2007 receives home appliance
event information from the sensor log server 2003 and transmits
home appliance event information according to necessity with
respect to the display device 2008 and the SNS event processing
module 2006.
The display device 2008 performs acquisition of a graphical user
interface (GUI) image and update of the display content in
accordance with home appliance event information transmitted from
the SNS event processing module 2006 and the sensor event
processing module 2007. The display device 2008 may hold in advance
a GUI to be displayed.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
of performing display of a GUI with the display device 2008 shown
in FIG. 13. One example of the graphical user interface (GUI) image
displayed in the display device 2008 shown in FIG. 13 is shown in
FIG. 23.
First, in the case where the start of operation of the home
appliance 2002 has been detected, the sensor 2004 transmits that
operation has started (a sensor value) to the sensor log server
2003 as home appliance event information. The sensor log server
2003 transmits the received home appliance event information
(sensor value) to the sensor event processing module 2007 of the
event processing server 2005 (step S141). The sensor event
processing module 2007 receives the home appliance event
information (sensor value) from the sensor 2004 (step S142) and
transmits the received home appliance event information to the
display device 2008 available to a user (step S143).
The display device 2008 receives the home appliance event
information from the sensor event processing module 2007 of the
event processing server 2005 (step S144) and requests a GUI in
accordance with the received home appliance event information and
the type (e.g., screen size and screen resolution) of the display
device 2008 to the SNS server 2001 (step S145).
The SNS server 2001 receives a GUI request from the display device
2008 (step S146) and transmits the requested GUI to the display
device 2008 (step S147). The display device 2008 receives a file in
hypertext markup language (HTML) or the like for displaying the GUI
from the SNS server 2001 (step S148) and displays the GUI in a
screen (step S149).
In the case where the display content of the GUI is determined
based on information in the sensor log server 2003 or the SNS
server 2001 when the display device 2008 displays the GUI,
processes of step S151 and thereafter in FIG. 15 or processes of
step S161 and thereafter in FIG. 16 described below are carried
out. In the case where the display content of the GUI is changed by
the behavior of the sensor 2004 or the SNS server 2001, processes
of step S171 and thereafter in FIG. 17 or processes of step S181
and thereafter in FIG. 18 described below are carried out.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of the GUI is determined based on
information on the sensor log server 2003 shown in FIG. 13.
At first, the sensor event processing module 2007 of the event
processing server 2005 is in a state of waiting to receive home
appliance event information transmitted from the display device
2008 connected to the home LAN (step S151). In the case where home
appliance event information has been received, the sensor event
processing module 2007 transmits a request event for a usage state
to the sensor log server 2003 of the home appliance 2002 (step
S152).
The sensor log server 2003 receives the request event from the
sensor event processing module 2007 of the event processing server
2005 (step S153) and transmits information (usage state) in
accordance with the event content to the sensor event processing
module 2007 of the event processing server 2005 (step S154).
The sensor event processing module 2007 of the event processing
server 2005 receives home appliance event information from the
sensor log server 2003 of the home appliance 2002 (step S155) and
determines whether or not the received home appliance event
information is home appliance event information transmitted from
the home appliance 2002 connected to the home LAN (step S156). If
it is the home appliance event information on the home appliance
2002 connected to the home LAN (YES in step S156), the sensor event
processing module 2007 notifies the home appliance event
information to the SNS event processing module 2006, transmits
sensor information (home appliance event information) to the SNS
server 2001 via the SNS event processing module 2006 (step S157),
and transmits the acquired information (home appliance event
information) to the display device 2008 (step S158).
The behavior in the case where the SNS server 2001 has received the
sensor information (home appliance event information) will be
described later using FIG. 19. The behavior in the case where the
display device 2008 has received the sensor information (home
appliance event information) will be described later using FIG.
20.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of the GUI is determined based on
information on the SNS server 2001 shown in FIG. 13.
At first, the SNS event processing module 2006 of the event
processing server 2005 is in a state of waiting to receive home
appliance event information transmitted from the sensor log server
2003 on the WWW and the display device 2008 (step S161). In the
case where home appliance event information has been received, the
SNS event processing module 2006 transmits a request event for a
different home state to the SNS server 2001 on the WWW (step
S162).
The SNS server 2001 receives the request event from the SNS event
processing module 2006 of the event processing server 2005 (step
S163) and transmits home appliance event information (different
home state) in accordance with the event content to the SNS event
processing module 2006 of the event processing server 2005 (step
S164).
The SNS event processing module 2006 of the event processing server
2005 receives the home appliance event information from the SNS
server 2001 on the WWW (step S165) and determines whether or not
the received home appliance event information is home appliance
event information transmitted from the SNS server 2001 on the WWW
(step S166). If it is the home appliance event information
transmitted from the SNS server 2001 on the WWW (YES in step S166),
the SNS event processing module 2006 transmits the acquired
information (home appliance event information transmitted from the
SNS server 2001 on the WWW) to the display device 2008, and the
display device 2008 receives the home appliance event information
that is from the SNS server 2001 on the WWW (step S167).
The behavior in the case where the display device 2008 has received
the sensor information (home appliance event information) will be
described later using FIG. 20.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of the GUI is determined based on
information on the sensor 2004 shown in FIG. 13.
At first, the sensor event processing module 2007 of the event
processing server 2005 is in a state of waiting to receive home
appliance event information transmitted from the sensor log server
2003 connected to the home LAN (step S171).
When the sensor log server 2003 of the home appliance 2002
transmits home appliance event information to the sensor event
processing module 2007 of the event processing server 2005 (step
S172), the sensor event processing module 2007 receives the home
appliance event information from the sensor log server 2003 of the
home appliance 2002 (step S173) and determines whether or not it is
home appliance event information transmitted from the home
appliance 2002 connected to the home LAN (step S174).
If it is the home appliance event information on the home appliance
2002 connected to the home LAN (YES in step S174), the sensor event
processing module 2007 notifies the information to the SNS event
processing module 2006, transmits sensor information (home
appliance event information) to the SNS server 2001 via the SNS
event processing module 2006 (step S175), and transmits the
acquired information (home appliance event information) to the
display device 2008 (step S176).
The behavior in the case where the SNS server 2001 has received the
sensor information (home appliance event information) will be
described later using FIG. 19. The behavior in the case where the
display device 2008 has received the sensor information (home
appliance event information) will be described later using FIG.
20.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display content of the GUI is changed based on
information on the SNS server 2001 shown in FIG. 13.
At first, the SNS event processing module 2006 of the event
processing server 2005 is in a state of waiting to receive home
appliance event information transmitted from the SNS server 2001 on
the WWW and the display device 2008 (step S181).
When the SNS server 2001 transmits home appliance event information
to the SNS event processing module 2006 of the event processing
server 2005, the SNS event processing module 2006 receives the home
appliance event information from the SNS server 2001 on the WWW
(step S182) and determines whether or not it is home appliance
event information transmitted from the SNS server 2001 on the WWW
(step S183).
If it is the home appliance event information transmitted from the
SNS server 2001 on the WWW (YES in step S183), the SNS event
processing module 2006 transmits the acquired information (home
appliance event information transmitted from the SNS server 2001 on
the WWW) to the display device 2008 (step S184).
The behavior in the case where the display device 2008 has the
received information (home appliance event information) of the SNS
server 2001 will be described later using FIG. 20.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the SNS server 2001 shown in FIG. 13 has received information
from the SNS event processing module 2006.
First, the SNS server 2001 receives home appliance event
information on the home appliance 2002 of each home from the SNS
event processing module 2006 of the event processing server 2005
(step S191). Next, the SNS server 2001 determines whether or not
there is the event processing server 2005 waiting for home
appliance event information from the SNS server 2001 (step
S192).
In the case where there is the event processing server 2005 waiting
for home appliance event information from the SNS server 2001 (YES
in step S192), the SNS server 2001 analyzes the received home
appliance event information and carries out a processing process by
processing and analyzing information on the sensor 2004 mounted to
the home appliance 2002 in each home or information on user
operation on a GUI displayed in the display device 2008 that is
within the received home appliance event information (step S193),
and transmits home appliance event information to the event
processing server 2005 (step S194).
The home appliance event information received from the SNS event
processing module 2006 includes the information on the sensor 2004
mounted to the home appliance 2002 in each home or the information
on user operation on a GUI displayed in the display device 2008.
These pieces of information are accumulated in the SNS server 2001
to be analyzed as information collected from a plurality of homes
or used in changing the display content of a GUI displayed in the
display device 2008 of each home.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the case
where the display device 2008 shown in FIG. 13 has received home
appliance event information relating to a change in display content
of a GUI from the SNS event processing module 2006 or the sensor
event processing module 2007.
First, the display device 2008 receives home appliance event
information from the SNS event processing module 2006 or the sensor
event processing module 2007 of the event processing server 2005
(step S201) and determines whether the received home appliance
event information is home appliance event information from the
sensor log server 2003 (YES in step S202) or home appliance event
information from the SNS server 2001 (NO in step S202).
The display device 2008 changes a display portion relating to one's
home if it is home appliance event information from the sensor log
server 2003 (step S203), and changes a display portion relating to
a different home if it is home appliance event information from the
SNS server 2001 (step S204).
Next, an example of a display portion relating to one's home in the
case where the display portion relating to one's home is changed by
the process in step S203 described above will be described below in
detail. FIG. 21 is a view showing one example of home appliance
event information transmitted by the home appliance 2002.
In the case where home appliance event information that the power
of a laundry machine in the row shown as 2211 in FIG. 21 has been
turned ON has been received when a graphical user interface (GUI)
image shown in FIG. 23 is displayed in the display device 2008, the
laundry machine is shown as currently in use by using an animation
effect of the laundry machine shaking to the left and right as
shown in FIG. 25A to display an appliance icon 2501 representing
the laundry machine of one's home in FIG. 23.
In the case where home appliance event information that the power
of a vacuum cleaner in the row shown as 2212 in FIG. 21 has been
turned ON has been received when a GUI in FIG. 23 is displayed in
the display device 2008, the vacuum cleaner is shown as currently
in use by using an animation effect of the vacuum cleaner moving to
the left and right as shown in FIG. 25B to display an appliance
icon 2502 representing the vacuum cleaner of one's home in FIG. 23.
In a similar manner, in the case where home appliance event
information that the power of a rice cooker has been turned ON has
been received, the rice cooker is shown as currently in use by
using an animation effect of steam coming out of the rice cooker as
shown in FIG. 25C to display an appliance icon representing the
rice cooker of one's home.
In the case where home appliance event information that the head
speed of a vacuum cleaner in the row shown as 2213 in FIG. 21 is
"fast" (quick) has been received when a vacuum cleaner dedicated
GUI shown in FIG. 27 is displayed in the display device 2008, the
vacuum cleaner is shown as currently in use by changing an
appliance icon of a person cleaning shown in FIG. 28A to an
appliance icon shown in FIG. 28B and using an animation effect of a
person in a flame to display the appliance icon.
In the case where the power of a vacuum cleaner dedicated GUI 2701
exists as shown in FIG. 29 when home appliance event information
that the vacuum cleaner in the row shown as 2212 in FIG. 21 has
been turned ON has been received, a screen transmission may be
carried out such that a display image of the display device 2008
transitions from a basic GUI 2700 (graphical user interface image)
to a vacuum cleaner dedicated GUI 2701 (community image). In the
case where home appliance event information that the power of the
vacuum cleaner has been turned OFF after the screen transition has
been received in this case, transition is made again to the
original screen (basic GUI 2700).
For example, as a picture of a community in the lower left in FIG.
29, situations of cleaning of respective houses are synthesized on
the vacuum cleaner dedicated GUI 2701 for a cleaning community. At
this time, the frequency of movement of a vacuum cleaner can be
captured to change the display effect of a character on a screen as
an indication of whether one is working hard, based on information
obtained from an acceleration sensor, dust sensor, or the like
simultaneously. Music or the like can be shared to share another
person's music for cleaning.
It may be such that only a different home in which a vacuum cleaner
is currently used is sorted and displayed on a map shown in FIG. 23
at the time of reception of home appliance event information that
the power of a vacuum cleaner has been turned ON.
As shown in the lower right in FIG. 29, a GUI 2702 sharing a screen
(community image) in which each person builds a house is provided
as a housework community image for iron. At this time, a person
working hard builds a house more quickly, and a large house can be
built if a large goal is set in advance. Whether one is working
hard and the magnitude of a goal are determined through the number
of waves or moving distance in an acceleration sensor mounted to an
iron or the used frequency of the iron itself. The progress of a
user may be displayed in a lower portion of the screen.
In the case where home appliance event information includes home
appliance type information representing the type of appliance as
described above and the event processing server 2005 has received
the home appliance event information when the display device 2008
is displaying a graphical user interface image, a display screen is
caused to transition from the graphical user interface image to a
community image relating to the type of appliance specified by the
home appliance type information included in the home appliance
event information. In this manner, in this embodiment, a GUI
displayed in the display device 2008 is changed in accordance with
the home appliance 2002 in use, and a GUI displayed in the display
device 2008 is changed in accordance with the termination of use of
the home appliance 2002.
Next, an example of a display portion relating to a different home
in the case where the display portion relating to the different
home is changed by the process in step S204 described above will be
described below in detail. FIG. 22 is a view showing one example of
home appliance event information transmitted by the SNS server
2001. The event type shown in FIG. 22 includes information on the
home appliance type according to necessity. The house ID is
identification information for identifying each home and may
include the appliance ID according to necessity.
In the case where home appliance event information that the power
of a laundry machine in the row shown as 2221 in FIG. 22 has been
turned ON has been received when the graphical user interface (GUI)
image shown in FIG. 23 is displayed in the display device 2008, the
laundry machine is shown as currently in use by using an animation
effect of the laundry machine shaking to the left and right as
shown in FIG. 25A to display an appliance icon 2503 representing
the laundry machine of a different home in FIG. 23.
In the case where home appliance event information on a tweet in
the row shown as 2223 in FIG. 22 has been received when the GUI in
FIG. 23 is displayed in the display device 2008, the tweet content
is displayed in a dialogue balloon 2504 from a different home in
FIG. 23.
In the case where home appliance event information on the title of
a house in the row shown as 2224 in FIG. 22 has been received when
the GUI in FIG. 23 is displayed in the display device 2008, a home
icon 2505 representing a different home in FIG. 23 can be displayed
using display such as a crown 2531 (title icon for a housework
master) as shown in FIG. 26A. The title of a house is determined
through performing analysis of an operational situation or the like
of the home appliance 2002, using sensing information (home
appliance event information) that the SNS server 2001 has received
from the same home. The title icon of a house is not particularly
limited to the example described above, and various changes are
possible. For example, an icon shown in FIG. 26B may be used as the
title icon for a beauty master.
In the case where home appliance event information on the state of
the house in the row shown as 2225 in FIG. 22 has been received
when the GUI in FIG. 23 is displayed in the display device 2008,
the home icon 2505 representing the different home in FIG. 23 can
be displayed using a display effect such as a home icon 2511
representing a state with a smile as shown in FIG. 24A. The state
of a house is determined through performing analysis of an
operational situation or the like of the home appliance 2002, using
sensing information (home appliance event information) that the SNS
server 2001 has received from the same home. A home icon
representing the state of the house is not particularly limited to
the example described above, and various changes are possible. For
example, a home icon representing a state with an angry face shown
in FIG. 24B or a home icon representing a state with a troubled
face shown in FIG. 24C may be used.
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 30 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this
embodiment as well, in a similar manner to Embodiment 1, it can be
such that home appliance event information including the state of a
home appliance is transmitted with respect to a home appliance
management server 3005 shown in FIG. 30 from the microwave 1002 or
the like within each house registered in advance, information on
each house is formed as screen information based on the type of the
home appliance event information or the occurrence frequency of the
home appliance event information, and the screen information is
provided with respect to a request of a display device 3000 or the
like. Regarding this point, description is omitted, and
characteristic portions of this embodiment will be described below
in detail.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 30 includes the GW
1001, the microwave 1002, the IH cooker 1003, the TV 1004, the DB
1011, the display device 3000, a toothbrush 3001, a sensor 3002, a
display device 3003, a GW 3004, and the home appliance management
server 3005.
In this embodiment, a home appliance such as the microwave 1002,
the IH cooker 1003, the TV 1004, the toothbrush 3001, or the
display device 3000 that displays a graphical user interface (GUI)
image is connected to the home appliance management server 3005 via
the GW 1001, and the sensor 3002 and the display device 3003 that
displays a GUI are connected to the home appliance management
server 3005 via the GW 3004 to form a network.
In FIG. 30, the home appliance management server 3005 that is newly
defined manages the home appliance or sensor connected to the
network and holds, in the DB 1011, appliance information (home
appliance event information) in accordance with the type of home
appliance or sensor.
FIG. 35 is a view showing one example of home appliance event
information. The home appliance event information shown in FIG. 35
is one example of home appliance event information acquired from
the home appliance management server 3005 and describes the type
(mounted sensor type) of a sensor mounted to an appliance and a
specific event process for each sensor value with respect to the
home appliance type. The event process may be described with an
executable program, may be a setting file for executing a program,
or may be link information (uniform resource locator (URL) or
pointer) for a program or setting file.
Next, a characteristic process in the GW 3004 or GW 1001 upon a new
connection of the sensor 3002 or the toothbrush 3001 to a network
and a display update process of the display device 3000 or the
display device 3003 that displays a relating GUI will be described
in detail.
In the case where a new home appliance (the toothbrush 3001 or the
sensor 3002 as one example) has been found, the GW 1001 to which
the toothbrush 3001 is connected or the GW 3004 to which the sensor
3002 is connected downloads a processing program for each piece of
home appliance event information from the home appliance management
server 3005. In order to immediately reflect sensor information
(home appliance event information) acquired from the toothbrush
3001 or the sensor 3002, the home appliance management server 3005
requests a display update of a community screen (graphical user
interface image) relating to a home screen displayed in the display
device 3000 or the display device 3003.
The process of the GW described above may be performed instead by
the home appliance management server 3005, so that each home
appliance or sensor is connected directly with the home appliance
management server 3005. The display device 3000 or the display
device 3003 does not need to be connected to the same GW as the
home appliance or sensor and may be connected directly with the
home appliance management server 3005.
FIG. 31 is a view showing one example of the internal configuration
of the GW 1001 shown in FIG. 30. The internal configuration of the
GW 3004 is similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 31, and
operation is similar to the GW 1001. Therefore, in the description
below, the GW 1001 will be described as an example.
In this configuration, a communication unit 3014 connects to a
network to perform information communication with a home appliance
or sensor (e.g., the display device 3000 or the toothbrush 3001) or
the home appliance management server 3005. An appliance information
acquisition unit 3013 acquires, from the home appliance management
server 3005, home appliance event information in accordance with
the type of appliance (home appliance or sensor) connected to the
network. The home appliance event information acquired by the
appliance information acquisition unit 3013 is saved in an
appliance information storage unit 3012.
For a method of determining the type of appliance connected to the
network, home appliance event information shown in FIG. 34 can be
used, for example. It suffices that a home appliance or sensor be
identified uniquely with the appliance ID shown in FIG. 34. For
example, a media access control (MAC) address or manufacturing
number is acceptable, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address is
acceptable as long as the uniqueness is guaranteed. The home
appliance type may be embedded in advance in a home appliance or
sensor or may be caused to be set by a user by providing setting
means such as a GUI. The home appliance type needs to be a sign
agreed at least between the home appliance management server 3005
and the GW 1001 or 3004, a home appliance, or a sensor, but does
not need to be managed as a character string. A numerical value or
any symbol is acceptable.
If each home appliance or sensor that is individually identifiable
with the appliance ID as described above holds the home appliance
type, the appliance information acquisition unit 3013 can acquire
the home appliance type via the communication unit 3014 upon
connection to the network.
An event processing unit 3011 acquires, from the appliance
information acquisition unit 3013, home appliance event information
on a home appliance or sensor connected via the communication unit
3014 and performs an event process in accordance with the acquired
home appliance event information. An event defined with the home
appliance event information as a result of operation of the home
appliance or sensor is specified as a result of the process of the
event processing unit 3011, and the home appliance event
information is notified to the display device 3000 or the home
appliance management server 3005.
As an event with which an event process by the event processing
unit 3011 occurs, a state change notification event showing a state
change or the like in ON/OFF of power that is the power of a home
appliance being turned on or off, an update notification event of
sensor information that various sensor values of a home appliance
or sensor have been updated, or the like can be defined based on
the home appliance event information notified from the home
appliance or sensor, for example. The event or event process is not
limited to a specific event or event process, and any event or
process can be defined.
In the case where the event processing unit 3011 has become capable
of an event process with respect to a new home appliance or sensor
after the appliance information acquisition unit 3013 has acquired
home appliance event information corresponding to the new home
appliance or sensor, the display update instruction unit 3010
instructs a display update with respect to the display device 3000
using the communication unit 3014.
As an alternative configuration, the display update instruction
unit 3010 may instruct a display update with respect to the display
device 3000 explicitly, or the event processing unit 3011 may
notify a display update event with respect to the display device
3000.
The home appliance management server 3005 may have a part or all of
the configuration of the GW 1001. In that case, a display device, a
home appliance, and a sensor are connected directly with the home
appliance management server 3005. Particularly, in the case where
the role of the GW is a bridge function between the home appliance
or sensor and the home appliance management server, a component
other than the communication unit may be transferred to the home
appliance management server. By this configuration being included
in a display device such as the display device 3000, information
from a home appliance or sensor may be received directly by the
display device to reflect the received information in a GUI.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing one example of a process of the GW
1001 when a new home appliance or sensor has been found in this
embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 32, the GW 1001 determines whether or not a
connected appliance (home appliance or sensor) is a newly connected
appliance (step S3021). In the case where the connected home
appliance or sensor is a newly connected appliance (YES in step
S3021), the appliance information acquisition unit 3013 acquires
home appliance event information on the newly connected appliance
from the home appliance management server 3005 (step S3022). In the
case where the home appliance event information is already acquired
from the home appliance management server 3005, acquisition may be
not performed.
Next, the appliance information acquisition unit 3013 stores the
acquired home appliance event information in the appliance
information storage unit 3012 (step S3023), and the event
processing unit 3011 enables a process based on the new home
appliance event information stored in the appliance information
storage unit 3012 (step S3024).
Next, the appliance information acquisition unit 3013 notifies that
a new appliance has been connected to the GW 1001 and become
available to the home appliance management server 3005 (step
S3025), and the display update instruction unit 3010 instructs an
entire reload of a GUI being displayed or a redraw of the GUI to
the display device 3000 using the communication unit 3014 (step
S3026). As a result, a GUI relating to the information acquired
from the newly connected home appliance or sensor is updated, and
the information that relates to the newly connected home appliance
or sensor is displayed in the GUI.
FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing one example of a process of the
display device 3000 to automatically display a relating community
upon connection of a new home appliance or sensor to the network.
FIG. 36 is a view showing one example of a GUI upon an automatic
display of a relating community upon connection of a new home
appliance or sensor to the network, as one example of the GUI
displayed and updated in the display device 3000. Since the display
device 3003 is configured in a similar manner and operates in a
similar manner to the display device 3000, the display device 3000
will be described as an example in the description below.
As shown in FIG. 33, the display device 3000 determines whether or
not an existence notification of a community relating to a newly
connected home appliance or sensor has been received from the home
appliance management server 3005 or the GW 1001 (step S3031). In
the case where an existence notification of a community relating to
the newly connected home appliance or sensor has been received (YES
in step S3031), the display device 3000 acquires community
information relating to the newly connected home appliance or
sensor from the home appliance management server 3005 and displays
the acquired community information as a new community in a GUI
(step S3032).
As a result of each process described above, a GUI relating to
information acquired from the newly connected home appliance or
sensor is updated, and the information (community list information)
that relates to the newly connected home appliance or sensor is
displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) image.
For example, a GUI shown in FIG. 36 is displayed, a recommended
community image 3601 is displayed as community list information in
the lower right of a screen in this example, and a recommended
community that relates to the new home appliance or sensor is
automatically displayed on the GUI. In this manner, the display
device 3000 or the like acquires community list information that
relates to a new appliance and superimposes and displays the
community list information in a graphical user interface image,
when the GW 1001 or the like has detected the new appliance (home
appliance or sensor) within a home.
Since the GW 1001 or 3004 can acquire home appliance event
information defining an event process for a new appliance when the
new appliance (home appliance or sensor) is detected as described
above, a GUI can be entirely displayed and updated automatically,
or a community list that relates to the new appliance (home
appliance or sensor) can be displayed and updated automatically.
Thus, in this embodiment, display of a GUI can be updated without
troubling a user with operation. Although a home appliance and a
display device have been described as being separate in this
embodiment, a home appliance having a screen such as a TV 1003 may
have a function as a display device.
(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 37 is a view showing the configuration of an information
sharing system in Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this
embodiment as well, in a similar manner to Embodiment 1, it can be
such that home appliance event information including the state of a
home appliance is transmitted with respect to a server 40110 via
the GW 40130 from a home appliance 40141 or 40142 within each house
40111, 40112, or 40113 registered in advance, information on each
house is formed as screen information based on the type of the home
appliance event information or the occurrence frequency of the home
appliance event information, and the screen information is provided
with respect to a request of a display device 40143. Regarding this
point, description is omitted, and characteristic portions of this
embodiment will be described below in detail.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 37 is configured of
the server 40110, a plurality of GWs 40130, the plurality of home
appliances 40141 and 40142, and a plurality of the display devices
40143.
The server 40110 acquires the operation situation of the home
appliance 40141 or 40142 as home appliance event information,
detects a relating community in accordance with the operation
situation, and transmits user interface (UI) information on the
community to the home appliance 40141 or 40142 via the GW
40130.
The home appliance event information includes operation information
representing the operation situation of the home appliance 40141 or
40142 as information on the state change of the home appliance
40141 or 40142 and home appliance type information representing the
type of the home appliance 40141 or 40142. The server 40110
determines, as a community to which a user is related, a community
associated with the type of appliance specified by the home
appliance type information, and the display device 40143 displays a
user interface image (UI image) relating to the community in
accordance with the operation state of the appliance specified by
the operation information.
As a network that connects the server 40110 and the GW 40130, the
Internet can be used. A form using a different line such as a
mobile phone network is acceptable, as long as home appliance event
information on the home appliances 40141 and 40142 can be
transmitted to the server 40110.
The GW 40130 is an appliance having a function of connecting with
the server 40110 through a network, and may be in a shape of a
router or may be an appliance that is a home appliance embedded
with a gateway function. For example, out of home appliances, a
home appliance such as a refrigerator, washstand, or air
conditioner to which power is constantly supplied can function as a
GW by being provided with a function of connecting to a
network.
The home appliances 40141 and 40142 are Internet appliances
including a function of network connection with the GW 40130. An
Internet appliance is a concept showing a home appliance or
equipment having a function of connecting to various networks
including the Internet and widely covers not just audio-video (AV)
equipments such as a television, recorder equipment, or remote
control equipment thereof but also home appliances such as a
bathroom scale, toothbrush, or dryer, major appliances, and the
like.
FIG. 38 is a view showing one example of the configuration of the
server 40110 shown in FIG. 37. As shown in FIG. 38, the server
40110 is configured of a communication unit 40210, a community
management unit 40211, a community app management unit 40212, a
customer DB 40240, an operation history DB 40241, and a community
DB 40242. The community app management unit 40212 manages a
plurality of application units 40220. Each application unit 40220
is configured of an appliance operation analysis unit 40221, a UI
generation unit 40222, and an app DB 40223.
Although each DB is provided within the server 40110 as described
above in this embodiment, this example is not particularly
limiting, and an external DB may be used in a similar manner to
Embodiment 1.
The communication unit 40210 establishes a state of performing data
exchange and performs data communication with the home appliance
40141 or 40142 via the GW 40130 connected to the network.
The community management unit 40211 manages a community associated
with the home appliance 40141 or 40142. Specifically, the community
management unit 40211 specifies a community to which a user is
related from the home appliance type information on the home
appliance 40141 or 40142 acquired by the communication unit 40210
and transmits the operation situation of the home appliance 40141
or 40142 acquired by the communication unit 40210 to the community
app management unit 40212 to request UI generation. The community
management unit 40211 stores the operation situation (home
appliance event information) of the home appliance 40141 or 40142
acquired by the communication unit 40210 in the operation history
DB 40241.
The community app management unit 40212 manages the application
unit 40220 associated with each community. Specifically, the
community app management unit 40212 determines the operation
situation of the home appliance 40141 or 40142 acquired from the
community management unit 40211 and generates a UI image to be
provided to a user.
Next, each component forming each application unit 40220 managed by
the community app management unit 40212 will be described.
The appliance operation analysis unit 40221 acquires relating home
appliance event information from the operation history DB 40241 and
determines the context of a user from the history of appliance
operation. The appliance operation analysis unit 40221 requests
generation of a UI image to be displayed to the user in accordance
with the determined context to the UI generation unit 40222. The UI
generation unit 40222 determines the display region of the display
device 40143 and generates the UI image in accordance with the
display region.
The app DB 40223 stores information to be used by an application
executed by the application unit 40220. For example, in the case
where the application displays a log of the past, information to be
saved is associated with a user ID or GW ID in the customer DB
40240 and saved internally by the app DB 40223.
The customer DB 40240 holds, for each user, respective pieces of
information that are the various IDs, the registration information,
and the reference to the operation history of the user. Using the
information, the community management unit 40211 and the community
app management unit 40212 determine the community or UI image in
accordance with the user.
FIG. 39 is a view showing one example of a customer database stored
in the customer DB 40240 and one example of a user operation
history database stored in the operation history DB 40241 shown in
FIG. 38. As shown in the upper section in FIG. 39, respective
pieces of information that are a user ID 40301, a GW ID 40302, a
registered name 40303 of a user, a registered community 40304 of a
user, a possessed appliance 40305, and a reference 40306 to the
operation history are stored in the customer DB 40240 in table
format.
The user ID 40301 is an identifier with which a user is uniquely
identified. The GW ID 40302 is an identifier with which the GW
40130 is uniquely identified. For the sake of simple description, a
case where one GW exists in each house (home) is described.
However, depending on the house, there is a possibility that a
house owning a plurality of GWs exists. In such a case, it may be
such that a house ID (identifier with which a home is uniquely
identified) is introduced in addition to a GW ID, a form is taken
in which a plurality of GW IDs exist under the house ID, and the
house ID is used instead of the GW ID described in this embodiment.
For the house ID, a method of managing with the server 40110 is
acceptable. A method is also acceptable in which a house ID is
registered with respect to a home appliance upon performing
registration of a newly obtained home appliance or the like in the
server 40110 and the house ID is notified to the server 40110 at
the time of communication from the home appliance.
Information on the registered name 40303 may be either a tentative
name or real name of a user that is used within a community.
Information on the registered community 40304 is the name of a
community in which a user in question is registered. Information on
the possessed appliance 40305 shows a list of home appliances owned
by a user in question. Information on the reference 40306 to the
operation history is reference information for the operation
history DB 40241 storing the history of operation of the possessed
appliance 40305 by a user in question. In the upper section in FIG.
39, information relating to a user ID "U0001" is stored in a row
40310, and information relating to a user ID) "U0002" is stored in
a row 40320, as one example.
The operation history DB 40241 stores, as home appliance event
information, operation history information managed for each user.
In the lower section in FIG. 39, one example of an operation
history database relating to a user (registered name "Haru") with
the user ID "U0001" shown in the upper section in FIG. 39 is shown.
In the example shown in the lower section in FIG. 39, respective
pieces of information that are year/month/day 40401, time 40402, an
operated appliance 40403, and an operation detail 40404 are stored
in the operation history DB 40241 in table format.
Information on the year/month/day 40401 shows the year, month, and
day in which operation has been performed. Information on the time
40402 shows the time at which the operation has been performed.
Information on the operated appliance 40403 shows home appliance
type information representing the type of appliance for which the
operation has been performed. Information on the operation detail
40404 shows the operation information representing the operation
performed with the appliance that is the operated appliance
40403.
List information on operation details that may occur for each
operated appliance may be determined in advance at the time of
product shipment and stored in advance in the operation history DB
40241 or may be under a policy of update on an as-needed basis on
the server 40110. In the lower section in FIG. 39, the date and
time or the like in which the power of a bathroom scale has been
turned ON are stored in a row 40410, and the date and time or the
like in which an operation button for selecting a person registered
in the bathroom scale (selecting a person associated with button
No. 1) has been pressed are stored in a row 40420, as one example
of the operation history relating to the user (registered name
"Haru").
The community DB 40242 stores association information on a list of
a community managed by the server 40110 and a corresponding
appliance (home appliance). FIG. 40 is a view showing one example
of a community database stored in the community DB 40242 shown in
FIG. 38.
In the example shown in FIG. 40, respective pieces of information
that are a community 40501, a corresponding appliance 40502, and a
reference 40503 to an application are stored in the community DB
40242 in table format. Information on the community 40501 shows a
list of communities managed by the server 40110. Information on the
corresponding appliance 40502 shows the home appliance type
information representing the relating type of appliance for each
community. Information on the corresponding appliance 40502 is not
particularly limited to the example described above. For example,
the corresponding appliance 40502 may be classified into and
managed as necessarily corresponding appliance and possibly
corresponding appliance.
As information on the reference 40503 to an application, reference
information for a region storing a program of a community in
question is held. In FIG. 40, a corresponding appliance for a diet
community and reference information for an application 1 are stored
in a row 40510, and a corresponding appliance for a cleaning
community and reference information for an application 2 are stored
in a row 40520, as one example.
Next, a control process of the server 40110 will be described. FIG.
41 is a flowchart showing one example of the control process of the
server 40110 shown in FIG. 37.
First, the community management unit 40211 acquires the GW ID and
the operation history of an appliance from the communication unit
40210 (step S4061). Next, the community management unit 40211
references the customer DB 40240 to acquire the user ID, registered
community, and information on reference to the operation history
that are associated with the acquired GW ID, then adds an operation
history to the operation history DB 40241, and further outputs the
acquired information on the registered community to the community
app management unit 40212 (step S4062).
Next, the community app management unit 40212 references the
community DB 40242, acquires reference information for an
application associated with the acquired registered community, and
passes reference information for the application, the user ID, and
reference information for the operation history to the application
unit 40220 (step S4063). Next, the application unit 40220 executes
the corresponding application using the reference information for
the application, analyzes, with the appliance operation analysis
unit 4021, the operation history acquired using the reference
information for the operation history, generates a UI image to be
provided to a user with the UI generation unit 40222, and transmits
the generated UI image to the user (step S4064).
Next, one example of the control process of the server 40110 in the
case where a washstand (appliance having not only a function of a
washstand as a home appliance but also a function of the GW 40130
and a function of the display device 40143) equipped with a network
function and a display function is used as the GW 40130 and a
bathroom scale is used as the home appliance 40141 will be
described in detail.
FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the washstand 40130 equipped with
the network function and the display function. The washstand 40130
can be connected to the Internet and can be connected to the
bathroom scale 40141 existing near the washstand 40130 or another
home appliance 40142 such as a toothbrush. The mirror surface of
the washstand 40130 is a half mirror in which an image displayed by
a built-in display and an image reflected in the mirror surface can
be superimposed and displayed.
The washstand 40130 can change the display content for each region
of the mirror surface. For example, an appliance area 40701 is a
region that displays a home appliance icon of the bathroom scale
40141 or another home appliance 40142 that can be connected with
the washstand 40130. By changing the manner of display in
accordance with the current state of connection with the washstand
40130, a connectable appliance such as a home appliance or the like
connected with the washstand 40130 can be visualized.
FIG. 43 is a view showing a display example of connectable
appliances in the appliance area shown in FIG. 42. For example, in
the appliance area 40701, a list of home appliances or the like
connectable to the washstand 40130, such as a bathroom scale icon
40801 representing the bathroom scale 40141, a toothbrush icon
40802 representing a toothbrush, and a dryer icon 40803
representing a dryer, is displayed. When the bathroom scale 40141
is connected to the washstand 40130, the bathroom scale icon 40801
representing the bathroom scale 40141 lights up to display a
connected home appliance or the like clearly to a user.
A log area 40702 shown in FIG. 42 is a region for displaying data
measured by the bathroom scale 40141 or the like clearly to a user.
Display can be performed not only for the weight at a timing of
performing weight measurement but also for comparison with a log
(measurement data or the like) of the past.
FIG. 44 is a view showing a display example of measurement data in
a log area shown in FIG. 42. For example, in the case where a
camera is mounted to the washstand 40130, a photograph or image can
be taken at a timing of weight measurement, and the weight can be
displayed not only with a number but also with the taken image of a
user as a change in body shape in a region 40901 in the upper
portion of the log area 40702. In the case where imaging
information on the back and side of a user is combined to create a
three-dimensional image and the three-dimensional image is
displayed, the direction of display may be changed by user
operation. It can be such that the display in question is expressed
not with a normal photograph or image but with a silhouette image,
and visualization of a change in body shape is performed through
superimposition with a silhouette image of the past.
In a region 40902 in the lower portion of the log area 40702, the
weight of the past is displayed in a clear manner in a graph or the
like. By selecting a measurement point on the graph in question,
the body shape of a user at the time of the selection can be
displayed within the region 40901.
An SNS area 40703 shown in FIG. 42 is a community region that
displays an image relating to a community in which a user is
participating. By displaying the situation of another user
participating in the community, the motivation of the user upon
operating a home appliance or the like can be improved.
FIG. 45 is a view showing a display example of a community in the
SNS area shown in FIG. 42. For example, in a region 41010 in the
upper portion of the SNS area 40703, ranking information on users
participating in the same community is displayed.
For example, upon a user performing weight measurement, the
washstand 40130 transmits weight data measured by the bathroom
scale 40141 to the server 40110. In accordance with the measurement
result, the appliance operation analysis unit 40221 within the
application unit 40220 for a diet community detects that weight has
been measured, and the UI generation unit 40222 creates a UI image
of a ranking of weight change for comparison with other community
participants. The created UI image is transmitted to the washstand
40130, and the UI image of the ranking of weight change is
displayed in the region 41010 shown in FIG. 45. A user name 41011
is the registered name registered in the customer database in FIG.
39. Since a user may feel uncomfortable with the weight result
being displayed as is, weights are divided into classes, and a
class display 41012 displays a change in class of the user.
In this method of expressing a class as well, a stout show-business
personality, a thin show-business personality, or the like who is
symbolic can be used for expression of a class in accordance with
the trend, for example. A categorization in consideration of the
balance between height and weight can be performed, such as the
class being made the same as a show-business personality with the
closest body mass index (BMI) calculated from the height and weight
of a user.
A region 41020 in an intermediate portion in the SNS area 40703 is
a region representing information on a tweet between members
belonging to a community in question. For example, tweet
information 41021 represents a tweet generated automatically upon a
class promotion in one's weight. The change in class can be
notified to a user belonging to the same community merely by
measuring the weight. As with the tweet information 41022, an award
with respect to the weight approaching a goal can be received by
receiving a message from a friend. On the other hand, upon an
increase in weight to a higher class, a message from a friend can
be an encouragement. Since a response from others with respect to
one's action can be seen easily, a user can be inclined to continue
weight management while maintaining motivation.
A region 41030 in the lower portion of the SNS area 40703 is a
region that displays a list of a part or all of community
participants. By actually changing what is displayed to a city
group, age group, or the like, a class with many users or the like
can be comprehended at a glance. It is easy with the UI image to
compare one's class with others. For example, as with a user icon
41031, it becomes easy to grasp movements of other participants
within the community by adding an expression (e.g., sparkling
expression) comprehensible to a user for a recent class change that
has occurred.
By representation through an expression (e.g. class display
(ranking display), display of tweet information, or display of a
list of users) with which a loose connection of users belonging to
the same community can be felt in this manner instead of one's
weight management being performed alone by oneself from the result
of measurement with the bathroom scale 40141, a user can more
enjoyably perform weight management and enable motivation to be
maintained.
A middle region 40704 shown in FIG. 42 is a region in which a user
standing in front of a mirror is most reflected, and therefore is a
region that can be expected to be utilized for a temporary large
display or the like of an operation result or the like of a home
appliance or the like of the user. For example, by a result upon
completion of measurement of weight with the bathroom scale 40141
not only being displayed in a liquid crystal panel in the bathroom
scale 40141 but also being displayed largely for a certain Lime in
the middle region 40704 of the washstand 40130, a user can further
comprehend the result at a glance.
Although a UI display with coordination of the bathroom scale 40141
and the washstand 40130 has been described as an example in this
embodiment, there are appliances for which superimposition and
display on an image of a user is advisable, depending on the type
of home appliance or the like in coordination. For example, in the
case of a community app that assists the use of a toothbrush, there
are cases where an illustration using an image in which the
placement or the like of the toothbrush is superimposed on one's
teeth is more comprehensible to a user. In this manner, the
position or content of the display region described above is one
example. The position or content of the display region can be
determined freely in accordance with a home appliance or the like
in coordination or a participated community. Therefore, the present
invention is not limited to the content described herein and can be
adapted widely.
Finally, one example of a control process of the information
sharing system will be described with the washstand 40130 and the
bathroom scale 40141 as one example. FIG. 46 is a sequence diagram
showing one example of the control process of the server 40110
using the washstand 40130 and the bathroom scale 40141.
Upon a user turning ON the bathroom scale 40141, the bathroom scale
40141 performs data communication with the washstand 40130 (step
S4111). At this time, the washstand 40130 transmits "GW ID" and
information on operated appliance and operation detail information
as "home appliance operation" to the server 40110 (step S4112).
Next, according to the control process in FIG. 41, the server 40110
generates a UI image to be displayed in the washstand 40130 (step
S4113). The server 40110 transmits the generated UI image to the
washstand 40130 (step S4114). Although the UI image is transmitted
directly herein, it may be such that a destination of access to the
server 40110 is transmitted to the washstand 40130 and the
washstand 40130 acquires the UI image from the server 40110, or a
method may be such that the server 40110 transmits a UI component
to the washstand 40130.
Next, the washstand 40130 displays the UI image designated by the
server 40110 (step S4115). As one example, the washstand 40130
displays that a bathroom scale is currently connected by displaying
the bathroom scale icon 40801 in the appliance area 40701 shown in
FIG. 43 and changing the color or the like of the bathroom scale
icon 40801.
When a user presses a person selection button in order to measure
the weight or the like of oneself, the bathroom scale 40141
transmits "bathroom scale" and "person selection information" that
are information on the operated appliance to the washstand 40130
(step S4116). At this time, the washstand 40130 transmits "GW ID"
and information on the operated appliance and operation detail
information as "home appliance operation" to the server 40110 (step
S4117).
Next, according to the control process in FIG. 41, the server 40110
generates a UI image to be displayed in the washstand 40130 (step
S4118). The server 40110 transmits the generated UI image to the
washstand 40130 (step S4119).
Next, the washstand 40130 displays the UI image designated by the
server 40110 (step S4120). As one example, the washstand 40130
displays in a graph the weight of the past in the region 40902
shown in FIG. 44 to display past weight information on the selected
user in the graph or the like in a clear manner. In the case where
a video is displayed in the region 40901, body shape information on
the user may be displayed. In the case where a static image is
displayed in the region 40901, an image taken at a timing when the
user is facing an appropriate direction may be displayed.
When the user measures the weight of oneself, the bathroom scale
40141 transmits "bathroom scale" and "measurement information" that
are information on the operated appliance to the washstand 40130
(step S4122). At this time, the washstand 40130 transmits "GW ID"
and information on the operated appliance and operation detail
information as "home appliance operation" to the server 40110 (step
S4123).
Next, according to the control process in FIG. 41, the server 40110
generates a UI image to be displayed in the washstand 40130 (step
S4125). The server 40110 transmits the generated UI image to the
washstand 40130 (step S4126).
Next, the washstand 40130 displays the UI image designated by the
server 40110 (step S4127). As one example, the washstand 40130
displays ranking information or the like in the regions 41010 to
41030 shown in FIG. 45. As a result, the washstand 40130 can
display in class the relationship of another user with one user
belonging to a community as a user interface image.
Although the image shown in FIG. 45 is displayed as the UI image of
the measurement result herein, it may be such that the image shown
in FIG. 45 is displayed in step S4120 and the region of the SNS
area 40703 is changed in accordance with the measurement result in
step S4127.
For example, upon the user name "Haru" achieving class promotion in
this measurement, the ranking of the user name "Haru" in the region
41010 changes to first place. Further, the tweet information 41021
in the region 41020 is automatically tweeted, and, in response
thereto, a message from a friend is also tweeted. In the display of
a list in the region 41030, the user icon 41031 of the user name
"Haru" is changed from an icon for bantamweight to an icon for
lightweight, and a sparkling mark showing a change in class is
displayed.
In this manner, in the case where a user is participating in a
community in this embodiment, a UI image that is community
information relating to other community participants can be
displayed by operation of a home appliance or the like, and the
motivation of the user operating the home appliance or the like can
be maintained.
(Embodiment 5)
Next, a GUI screen displayed upon operation of a vacuum cleaner
using an SNS application process using the vacuum cleaner will be
described for an information sharing system in Embodiment 5 of the
present invention.
FIG. 47 is a view showing the configuration of the information
sharing system in Embodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG. 48 is
a view showing one example of a display screen displayed in a
display device shown in FIG. 47. In this embodiment as well, in a
similar manner to Embodiment 1, it can be such that home appliance
event information including the state of a home appliance is
transmitted with respect to a server 5011 via a GW 5013 from a home
appliance within each house registered in advance, information on
each house is formed as screen information based on the type of the
home appliance event information or the occurrence frequency of the
home appliance event information, and the screen information is
provided with respect to a request of a display device 5016.
Regarding this point, description is omitted, and characteristic
portions of this embodiment will be described below in detail.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 47 includes a server
5011, a DB 5012, a GW 5013, a dust sensor 5014 that is one example
of a sensor, a vacuum cleaner 5015 that is one example of a home
appliance, and the display device 5016. In this embodiment, in a
manner below, a garbage bag item can be gained on an SNS service as
a reward, when the amount of dust exceeds a value set in
advance.
That is, when the vacuum cleaner 5015 sucks up dust, the dust
sensor 5014 detects the amount of sucked dust. The GW 5013
acquires, from the dust sensor 5014, and notifies, as home
appliance event information to the server 5011, the amount of dust
sucked by the vacuum cleaner 5015.
When the amount of dust exceeds the value set in advance, the
server 5011 provides the garbage bag item on the SNS service to a
user as a reward. Specifically, the server 5011 retains the number
of gained garbage bags in the DB 5012 for each user. The server
5011 generates and, via the GW 5013, causes the display device 5016
to display a graphical user interface (GUI) image in accordance
with the number of gained garbage bags. For example, as the GUI
image, a garbage bag icon 5018 shown in FIG. 48 is displayed on the
display screen of the display device 5016.
FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 47. First, the GW 5013
acquires, from the dust sensor 5014, and notifies, to the server
5011, the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum cleaner 5015 (step
S5021). Next, the server 5011 determines whether or not the amount
of dust has exceeded the value set in advance (step S5022) and, in
the case where the amount of dust has not exceeded the value set in
advance (NO in step S5022), the process of step S5021 is
repeated.
In the case where the amount of dust exceeds the value set in
advance (YES in step S5022), the user gains a garbage bag, and the
server 5011 saves the number of gained garbage bags in the DB 5012
(step S5023). Next, the server 5011 creates a GUI image in
accordance with the number of gained garbage bags and causes the
garbage bag icon 5018 to be displayed in the display screen of the
display device 5016 via the GW 5013 (step S5024).
With the process described above, in this embodiment, the garbage
bag icon 5018 increases on the display screen of the display device
5016 in accordance with the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum
cleaner 5015, and the number of gained garbage bags is saved in the
DB 5012. The display device 5016 or the dust sensor 5014 does not
necessarily need to communicate with the server 5011 via the GW
5013 and may use a network for direct communication.
The process described above may be extended as in FIG. 50. FIG. 50
is a flowchart showing a first extended process in the information
sharing system shown in FIG. 47. FIG. 51 is a view showing another
example of a display screen displayed in the display device shown
in FIG. 47. Steps S5021 and S5022 shown in FIG. 50 are processes
similar to steps S5021 and S5022 shown in FIG. 49, and therefore
description is omitted. Processes different from FIG. 49 will be
described in detail.
In the case where the amount of dust exceeds the value set in
advance after the processes of steps S5021 and S5022 have been
executed (YES in step S5022), the server 5011 randomly determines
the type of garbage bag to be gained by the user (step S5041) and
saves the number and type of gained garbage bags in the DB 5012 for
each user (step S5042). Next, the server 5011 creates a GUI image
in accordance with the number and type of gained garbage bags and
causes a garbage bag icon to be displayed in the display screen of
the display device 5016 via the GW 5013 (step S5043). For example,
as the GUI image, three garbage bag icons 5018 of different types
shown in FIG. 51 are displayed on the display screen of the display
device 5016.
With the process described above, in this example, the garbage bag
icon 5018 increases on the display screen of the display device
5016 in accordance with the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum
cleaner 5015, the number and type of gained garbage bags are saved
in the DB 5012, and garbage bags with different colors or designs
can be gained at random.
The process described above may be extended as in FIG. 52. FIG. 52
is a flowchart showing a second extended process in the information
sharing system shown in FIG. 47. FIG. 53 is a view showing another
example of a display screen displayed in the display device shown
in FIG. 47. Steps S5021 to S5042 shown in FIG. 52 are processes
similar to steps S5021 to S5042 shown in FIG. 50, and therefore
description is omitted. Processes different from FIG. 50 will be
described in detail.
After the process of step S5042 has been executed, the server 5011
calculates the proportion of the gained types of garbage bag
(garbage bag collection rate) with respect to all of the types of
garbage bags (step S5061). Next, the server 5011 creates a GUI
image displaying a garbage bag icon and the garbage bag collection
rate in accordance with the number and type of gained garbage bags
and causes the garbage bag icon and the garbage bag collection rate
to be displayed in the display screen of the display device 5016
via the GW 5013 (step S5062). For example, as the GUI image, three
garbage bag icons 5018 of different types shown in FIG. 53 and
information 5051 showing "garbage bag collection rate 20%" are
displayed on the display screen of the display device 5016.
With the process described above, in this example, the garbage bag
icon 5018 increases on the display screen of the display device
5016 in accordance with the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum
cleaner 5015, the number and type of gained garbage bags are saved
in the DB 5012, garbage bags with different colors or designs can
be gained at random, and the types of garbage bags that have been
collected at this point can be displayed in percentage.
The information sharing system described above may be extended as
in FIG. 54. FIG. 54 is a view showing the configuration of another
information sharing system in Embodiment 5 of the present
invention. FIG. 55 is a view showing one example of a display
screen displayed in a display device shown in FIG. 54.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 54 includes the server
5011, the DB 5012, the GW 5013, the dust sensor 5014 that is one
example of a sensor, the vacuum cleaner 5015 that is one example of
a home appliance, the display device 5016, and an audio device
5072.
As shown in FIG. 54, the dust sensor 5014 detects the amount of
sucked dust when the vacuum cleaner 5015 sucks up dust. The GW 5013
acquires, from the dust sensor 5014, and notifies, to the server
5011, the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum cleaner 5015.
When the amount of dust exceeds a value set in advance, the server
5011 provides a garbage bag item on an SNS service to a user as a
reward. Specifically, the server 5011 randomly determines the type
of gained garbage bag and retains the number and type of gained
garbage bags in the DB 5012 for each user.
The server 5011 obtains the proportion of the gained types of
garbage bags with respect to all of the types of garbage bags as
the garbage bag collection rate. The server 5011 causes a GUI image
in accordance with the number and type of gained garbage bags to be
displayed in the display device 5016 via the GW 5013. For example,
in accordance with the number and type of gained garbage bags, the
garbage bag icon 5018 shown in FIG. 55 and the information 5051
showing "garbage bag collection rate 100%" are displayed in the
display screen of the display device 5016.
In the case where the garbage bag collection rate has become 100%,
the housework level of the user levels up. At this time, the server
5011 performs via GW 5013 a display 5071 of a level increase in the
display screen of the display device 5016. The user acquires
background music (BGM) as a reward, the server 5011 transmits BGM
data to the audio device 5072 via the GW 5013, and the BGM is
played by the audio device 5072.
FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 54. Steps S5021 to S5062
shown in FIG. 56 are processes similar to steps S5021 to S5062
shown in FIG. 52, and therefore description is omitted. Processes
different from FIG. 52 will be described in detail.
After the process of step S5062 has been executed, the server 5011
determines whether or not the garbage bag collection rate has
become 100% (step S5081) and, in the case where the garbage bag
collection rate is not 100% (NO in step S5081), the process is
terminated. In the case where the garbage bag collection rate is
100% (YES in step S5081), the server 5011 causes the display of a
level increase to be displayed in the display screen of the display
device 5016 via the GW 5013 (step S5082). Next, the server 5011
transmits BGM data to the audio device 5072 via the GW 5013 and
causes BGM to be played by the audio device 5072 (step S5083).
With the process described above, in this example, the garbage bag
icon 5018 increases on the display screen of the display device
5016 in accordance with the amount of dust sucked by the vacuum
cleaner 5015, the number and type of gained garbage bags are saved
in the DB 5012, garbage bags with different colors or designs can
be gained at random, and the types of garbage bags that have been
collected at this point can be displayed in percentage. Further,
when the garbage bag collection rate is 100%, the cleaning level of
a user increases, BGM can be given to the user, and the BGM is
played by the audio device 5072. In this manner, in this
embodiment, a screen display upon operation of a vacuum cleaner is
realized.
(Embodiment 6)
Next, a GUI screen displayed upon operation of a vacuum cleaner,
iron, or the like using an SNS application process using a home
appliance such as the vacuum cleaner or iron will be described for
an information sharing system in Embodiment 6 of the present
invention.
FIG. 57 is a view showing the configuration of the information
sharing system in Embodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 58 is
a view showing one example of a display screen displayed in a
display device shown in FIG. 57. In this embodiment as well, in a
similar manner to Embodiment 1, it can be such that home appliance
event information including the state of a home appliance is
transmitted with respect to the server 5011 via the GW 5013 from a
home appliance within each house registered in advance, information
on each house is formed as screen information based on the type of
the home appliance event information or the occurrence frequency of
the home appliance event information, and the screen information is
provided with respect to a request of the display device 5016.
Regarding this point, description is omitted, and characteristic
portions of this embodiment will be described below in detail.
The information sharing system shown in FIG. 57 includes the server
5011, the DB 5012, the GW 5013, sensors 6011 and 6012, a vacuum
cleaner 6013 and an iron 6014 that are one example of a home
appliance, and the display device 5016. When a user moves the
vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014, the sensor 6011 or 6012
detects the amount of the movement. The GW 5013 acquires, from the
sensor 6011 or 6012, and notifies, as home appliance event
information to the server 5011, the amount of movement of the
vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014.
In accordance with the amount of movement of the vacuum cleaner
6013 or the iron 6014, the server 5011 calculates the calorie
consumption upon performing the housework and retains the calorie
consumption in the DB 5012 for each user. The server 5011 generates
and, via the GW 5013, causes the display device 5016 to display a
graphical user interface (GUI) image in accordance with the calorie
consumption. For example, as the GUI image, information 6015
showing the calorie consumption with each home appliance (the
vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014) and the total value is
displayed on the display screen of the display device 5016, as
shown in FIG. 58.
FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing one example of a process in the
information sharing system shown in FIG. 57. The server 5011
acquires the amount of movement of the vacuum cleaner 6013 or the
iron 6014 from the sensor 6011 or 6012 via the GW 5013 and
calculates the calorie consumption from the amount by which the
vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014 has been moved (step S6021).
Next, the server 5011 generates a GUI image that displays the
calorie consumption with each home appliance and the total value
for display on the display screen of the display device 5016 via
the GW 5013 (step S6022).
With the process described above, in this embodiment, the calorie
consumption can be displayed automatically in accordance with the
amount by which the vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014 has been
moved upon operation of the home appliance such as the vacuum
cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014.
The process described above may be extended as in FIG. 60. FIG. 60
is a flowchart showing a first extended process in the information
sharing system shown in FIG. 57. FIG. 61 is a view showing another
example of a display screen displayed in the display device shown
in FIG. 57. Steps S6021 and S6022 shown in FIG. 60 are processes
similar to steps S6021 and S6022 shown in FIG. 59, and therefore
description is omitted. A process different from FIG. 59 will be
described in detail.
After the process of step S6022 has been executed, the server 5011
determines food in accordance with the calorie consumption, creates
a GUI image including a picture of the determined food, and causes
the picture of the food to be displayed in the display screen of
the display device 5016 via the GW 5013 (step S6041). For example,
as the GUI image, a picture 6031 of food (e.g., rice ball) in
accordance with the calorie consumption is displayed on the display
screen of the display device 5016, as shown in FIG. 61.
With the process described above, in this example, the calorie
consumption can be displayed in accordance with the amount by which
the vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014 has been moved, and a
picture of food corresponding to the displayed calorie can be
displayed.
The process described above may be extended as in FIG. 62. FIG. 62
is a flowchart showing a second extended process in the information
sharing system shown in FIG. 57. FIG. 63 is a view showing still
another example of a display screen displayed in the display device
shown in FIG. 57. Steps S6021 to S6041 shown in FIG. 62 are
processes similar to steps S6021 to S6041 shown in FIG. 60, and
therefore description is omitted. Processes different from FIG. 60
will be described in detail.
After the process of step S6041 has been executed, the server 5011
adds the degree of growth of a virtual pet in accordance with
gained food (step S6061), creates a GUI image including a picture
of the virtual pet in accordance with the degree of growth, and
causes the picture of the virtual pet to be displayed in the
display screen of the display device 5016 via the GW 5013 (step
S6062). For example, as the GUI image, a picture 6051 of a virtual
pet in accordance with the degree of growth is displayed on the
display screen of the display device 5016, as shown in FIG. 63.
With the process described above, in this example, the calorie
consumption can be displayed in accordance with the amount by which
the vacuum cleaner 6013 or the iron 6014 has been moved, a picture
of corresponding food can be displayed in accordance with the
displayed calorie, and the food can further be obtained as an item
with which a virtual pet can be fed to enable growth of the pet. In
this manner, in this embodiment, a screen display upon operation of
a home appliance such as a vacuum cleaner or iron is realized.
From each embodiment described above, each aspect of the present
invention is described as follows. That is, an information sharing
method according to one aspect of the present invention is an
information sharing method that provides a graphical user interface
image for sharing information relating to an appliance within a
home among a plurality of users, including a receiving step of
receiving, as home appliance event information, information on a
state change of an appliance within a plurality of homes, a
priority determining step of determining a priority of a home that
is to be displayed in the graphical user interface image in
accordance with an occurrence frequency of the home appliance event
information within each home, and a home determining step of
determining a home to be displayed in the graphical user interface
image in accordance with the priority.
With the information sharing method, information on the state
change of an appliance within a plurality of homes is received as
home appliance event information, the priority of a home that
should be displayed in a graphical user interface image is
determined in accordance with the occurrence frequency of the home
appliance event information within each home, and a home to be
displayed in the graphical user interface image is determined in
accordance with the priority. Thus, a more attractive graphical
user interface image with enhanced reality or real time properties
of information can be provided, since a plurality of users can
share information on the state change of the appliance that has
actually occurred. It is possible to enhance reality or real time
properties of information compared to an existing SNS, and a
service with which more attractive content can be enjoyed can be
provided.
As a result, an information sharing service having a more
attractive graphical user interface image with enhanced reality or
real time properties of information can be provided by constructing
a method of sharing, between a plurality of users, information on
the state change of an appliance that has actually occurred and
associating, with an event, and displaying information on a text or
photograph posted by a user.
It is preferable that the home appliance event information include
home appliance type information representing a type of the
appliance, and the priority determining step be implemented such
that the home appliance event information is classified for each
type of appliance using the home appliance type information and a
priority of a home that should be displayed in the graphical user
interface image is determined in accordance with an occurrence
frequency of home appliance event information for each type of
appliance.
In this case, information on the state change of an appliance
relating to a community to which a user belongs can be shared,
since the priority of a home that should be displayed in a
graphical user interface image is determined in accordance with the
occurrence frequency of home appliance event information for each
type of appliance.
It is preferable that a displaying step of changing and displaying,
in the graphical user interface image, a display state of an
appliance icon representing an appliance within a home determined
in the home determining step, in accordance with an occurrence
frequency of home appliance event information for each type of the
appliance, be further included.
In this case, the state change of an appliance relating to a
community to which a user belongs can be displayed clearly to the
user, since the display state of an appliance icon representing the
appliance within a home can be changed and displayed in a graphical
user interface image in accordance with the occurrence frequency of
home appliance event information for each type of appliance.
It is preferable that the home appliance event information include
home appliance type information representing a type of the
appliance and housework type information representing a type of
housework associated with a type of appliance specified by the home
appliance type information, and the priority determining step be
implemented such that the home appliance event information is
classified for each type of housework using the housework type
information and a priority of a home that is to be displayed is
determined in accordance with an occurrence frequency of home
appliance event information associated with a type of housework
selected by a user.
In this case, information on the state change of an appliance can
be shared with another user having interest in a housework selected
by a user, since the priority of a home that should be displayed
can be determined in accordance with the occurrence frequency of
home appliance event information associated with the type of
housework selected by the user.
It is preferable that a displaying step of changing and displaying,
in the graphical user interface image, a display state of a home
icon representing a home determined in the home determining step,
in accordance with an occurrence frequency of home appliance event
information associated with a type of housework selected by the
user, be further included.
In this case, the state within a home of another user having
interest in a housework selected by a user can be displayed clearly
to a user, since the display state of a home icon representing a
home can be changed and displayed in a graphical user interface
image in accordance with the occurrence frequency of home appliance
event information associated with the type of housework selected by
the user.
It is preferable that a message information receiving step of
receiving message information including request information
requesting display in coordination with a type of appliance or type
of housework selected by a user and also including a message input
by the user and a displaying step of superimposing and displaying
the message in the graphical user interface image when home
appliance event information associated with a type of appliance or
type of housework specified by the request information has been
received be further included.
In this case, a message can be displayed at a timing of a change in
state of an appliance, since the message is superimposed and
displayed in a graphical user interface image when home appliance
event information associated with the type of appliance or type of
housework specified by request information has been received after
message information including the request information requesting
display in coordination with the type of appliance or type of
housework selected by a user and the message input by the user has
been received. Since a sender of the message can associate the
message of the sender with the home appliance event information
confirming the same more simply at the time of sending the message,
an information sharing service that is attractive also to the
sender of the message can be provided.
It is preferable that the displaying step be implemented such that
a home icon representing a home determined in the home determining
step is displayed in the graphical user interface image and the
message is superimposed and displayed near the home icon.
In this case, a message relating to a home can be checked easily,
since the message is superimposed and displayed near a home icon
representing the home.
It is preferable that the displaying step be implemented such that
an appliance icon representing an appliance within a home
determined in the home determining step is displayed in the
graphical user interface image and the message is superimposed and
displayed near the appliance icon.
In this case, a message relating to an appliance can be checked
easily, since the message is superimposed and displayed near an
appliance icon representing the appliance within a home.
It is preferable that the home appliance event information include
home appliance type information representing a type of the
appliance, the method further including: a transitioning step of
causing a display screen to transition from the graphical user
interface image to a community image relating to a type of
appliance specified by home appliance type information included in
the home appliance event information in a case where the home
appliance event information has been received when the graphical
user interface image is displayed.
In this case, a display screen can be changed from a graphical user
interface image to a community image relating to the type of
appliance in accordance with an appliance used by a user, and the
display screen can be changed from the community image relating to
the type of appliance to the graphical user interface image in
accordance with the termination of use of the appliance.
It is preferable that a displaying step of acquiring, when a new
appliance within a home has been detected, community list
information that relates to the new appliance, and superimposing
and displaying the community list information in the graphical user
interface image be further included.
In this case, community list information that relates to a new
appliance can be superimposed and displayed in a graphical user
interface image to automatically update a display screen without
troubling a user with operation, since the community list
information that relates to the new appliance is superimposed and
displayed in the graphical user interface image when the new
appliance within a home has been detected.
It is preferable that the home appliance event information include
operation information representing an operation situation of the
appliance and home appliance type information representing a type
of the appliance, the method further including: a displaying step
of determining, as a community to which a user is related, a
community associated with a type of appliance specified by the home
appliance type information and displaying a user interface image
relating to the community in accordance with an operation state of
an appliance specified by the operation information.
In this case, a user interface image relating to another community
participant can be displayed automatically by operation of an
appliance in the case where a user is participating in a community,
since a community associated with the type of appliance specified
by home appliance type information is determined as a community to
which the user is related and a user interface image relating to
the determined community is displayed in accordance with the
operation state of the appliance specified by operation
information.
It is preferable that the appliance include a washstand having a
gateway function and a bathroom scale, and the displaying step be
implemented such that a relationship of another user with one user
belonging to the community is displayed in class as the user
interface image.
In this case, the motivation of a user belonging to a community
aimed at dieting can be maintained, since a washstand and a
bathroom scale are caused to coordinate and the relationship of
another user with one user belonging to the community is displayed
in class.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
In a manner described above, it is possible to enhance reality or
real time properties of information compared to an existing
information sharing service such as SNS on the Internet, and a
service that can be enjoyed as more attractive content can be
provided. Further, a sender of information can associate a message
of the sender with an event confirming the same more simply at the
time of sending the information. Therefore, the service is
attractive also to the sender.
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